Q:

My house has a brick veneer that has been painted a couple of times by previous owners, and I would like to return the brick to its original finish without ruining the fired-on glaze that makes the brick waterproof. High-pressure water has been suggested along with sandblasting, glassbead blasting and walnut-shell blasting. But each of these abrasive techniques also ruins the mortar and may affect the brick glaze. Are there any alternatives so that I can save this brick veneer?

Steve Marshall, Altadena, CA

A:

Brian J. Doherty, a painting contractor in Richmond, Virginia, replies: A couple of years ago, I heard a story about a self-made Texas billionaire who, after becoming rich and famous, purchased the brick home he’d grown up in. His plan was to restore the house to its original condition, but he could not find a contractor who could tell him a good way of removing the many layers of paint that had been applied to the brick over the years. His simple solution was to hire a crew to remove each brick, turn it around and replace it with the bare side facing out.

In lieu of the billion-dollar solution and in light of the drawbacks to the methods already suggested to you, I recommend a product called Peel-Away (Dumond Chemicals Inc.; 800-245-1191), which consists of a chemical compound along with backing paper that is applied on top of the painted surface. It supposedly can remove up to 30 coats of paint in one application.

Here’s how it works. First, the compound, which has the consistency of spackling, is applied over the old paint with a wide taping knife or trowel. The paper is then applied on top of the compound. After the compound and paper stand for 24 hours, they turn into a rubbery substance that peels off with all the accumulated paint.

This method is also pretty easy for do-it-yourselfers. I had customers here in Richmond who used this product to remove the paint from the front of their two-story brick town house. The results were impressive; the customers had absolutely no trace of paint left on the brick.

You’re right to be cautious about ruining the finish of the brick with whatever paint-removal method you choose. In the Peel-Away instruction booklet, the manufacturer recommends doing a test patch to make sure that there are no adverse effects from the product. Peel-Away is available in paint stores, home centers and most hardware stores. One gallon covers 20 sq. ft. and costs about $24, but buying it in 5-gal. quantities usually gets you a lower per-gallon price.